Losing group plan

Things are not going well where I work – layoffs, no overtime. They have even stopped stocking the coffee machines. I’m afraid that they might cut off our health insurance any day. Can they do that without telling us?

Waiting For The Other Shoe

Dear Waiting For The Other Shoe,

No, they cannot legally end the plan without telling you. Under ERISA (a federal law for employer health plans), an employer has to give at least 60 days’ notice before ending a health plan. The bummer is that COBRA coverage will not be available if the employer ends the plan. The carrier may offer you an individual (non-group) plan. The non-group plan may be quite expensive but it may also be your only option.